|
Strategic Tool |
Key Takeaway(s) |
Symbolic Color |
Symbolic Animal |
|
Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) Framework |
Focus on the underlying customer needs and “jobs” your services fulfill. |
Blue (clarity) |
Beaver (industrious) |
|
Design Thinking |
Emphasize empathy and innovation to create user-centric solutions. |
Yellow (optimism) |
Dolphin (intelligence, sociability) |
|
Digital Transformation Framework |
Integrate digital technology to fundamentally change operations and enhance value. |
Silver (futuristic) |
Eagle (visionary) |
|
Scenario Planning and Analysis |
Prepare for multiple future possibilities to ensure flexibility and resilience. |
Green (growth) |
Owl (wisdom, foresight) |
|
Resource-Based View (RBV) |
Leverage unique internal resources and capabilities for competitive advantage. |
Gold (value) |
Lion (strength, leadership) |
|
Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model |
Implement change systematically to ensure lasting transformation. |
Orange (change) |
Elephant (memory, social) |
|
McKinsey Growth Pyramid |
Balance growth initiatives across immediate, emerging, and future opportunities. |
Purple (creativity) |
Fox (agility, strategic) |
|
Environmental Scanning |
Continuously monitor external trends and changes to identify opportunities and threats. |
Teal (adaptability) |
Antelope (awareness, speed) |
|
Theory of Constraints (TOC) |
Identify and address the biggest obstacles to achieving goals. |
Red (urgency) |
Wolf (determination) |
|
Competency Framework |
Define and develop the skills, knowledge, and behaviors essential for success. |
Pink (nurturing) |
Panda (learning, adaptability) |
|
OKR (Objectives and Key Results) |
Set and track measurable goals to drive focus and alignment within the organization. |
Sky Blue (clarity and focus) |
Horse (endurance, teamwork) |
|
Five Forces Framework |
Analyze competitive forces to strategize for market positioning and profitability. |
Gray (balance) |
Shark (competitive) |
|
Customer Segmentation |
Understand and cater to the diverse needs of your customer base for more effective targeting. |
Lavender (understanding) |
Chameleon (adaptation) |
|
Lean Startup Methodology |
Iterate quickly with MVPs to learn fast and adapt based on real customer feedback. |
Mint Green (freshness, innovation) |
Hummingbird (agility, rapid response) |
|
Stakeholder Mapping |
Identify and prioritize stakeholders to effectively engage and manage relationships. |
Bronze (stability, reliability) |
Spider (networking) |
|
VRIO Framework |
Assess resources for Value, Rarity, Imitability, and Organization to sustain competitive advantage. |
Indigo (depth, insight) |
Rhino (rare, powerful) |
|
Balanced Scorecard |
Balance financial, customer, internal process, and learning perspectives for holistic organizational success. |
Cyan (balance, harmony) |
Owl (balanced vision) |
|
PESTEL Analysis |
Evaluate external macro-environmental factors to inform strategic decision-making. |
Olive Green (environmental awareness) |
Elephant (comprehensive understanding) |
|
Theory X and Theory Y |
Understand employee motivation to develop effective management and organizational practices. (Note: This tool wasn’t directly discussed earlier.) |
Orange (warmth, motivation) |
Bee (collaborative, hardworking) |
|
Blue Ocean Strategy |
Create uncontested market spaces to make the competition irrelevant. |
Azure (innovation, calmness) |
Dolphin (smart, navigating open waters) |
|
The McKinsey 7S Framework |
Align internal elements (strategy, structure, systems, shared values, skills, style, staff) for effective execution. |
Burgundy (richness, sophistication) |
Ant (organizational) |
|
The Triple Bottom Line |
Focus on social, environmental, and financial responsibilities for sustainable success. |
Emerald Green (sustainability, vitality) |
Bee (community, sustainability) |
|
Design Sprint |
Rapidly prototype and test ideas to solve big challenges and gain insights quickly. (Note: This tool wasn’t directly discussed earlier.) |
Bright Red (energy, action) |
Cheetah (speed, focus) |